EBIT/EV Multiple

A financial ratio that measures the company's earnings yield.

Austin Anderson

Reviewed by

Austin Anderson

Expertise: Consulting | Data Analysis

Updated:

September 15, 2022

When it comes to valuing a company, three valuation methods are used: 

These methods are commonly used in equity research, mergers & acquisitions, investment banking, and private equity. 

Comparable company analysis is a valuation method in which a determined company is compared to others that meet several criteria (same industry, size, accounting structure, geography) by looking at trading multiples

Several multiples are used in this process, such as P/E and EBITDA/EV. Among these, there is also the EBIT/EV multiple. This metric is a financial ratio that measures the company's earnings yield

This metric is used in business valuation models to determine whether a stock is overpriced or underpriced compared to similar companies or the market.

The EBIT/EV ratio compares a company's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) to its enterprise value (EV).

EBIT/EV Multiple Interpretation 

The EBIT/EV Multiple is a crucial ratio for valuation, equity reports, and analysis among comparable companies. It is used to understand the target price of a particular stock. 

The company's stock could be undervalued if the EBIT/EV ratio is lower. 

Meaning that its stock price is lower than what it should be; as a result, investors may expect stock prices to rise once the market gives the correct value to the company. 

On the other hand, a high EBIT/EV multiple signals that the company price could be overvalued

In such situations, it is very likely for the stock price to fall.

Formula

Earnings Before Interest & Taxes (EBIT)

The EBIT is a metric that indicates how profitable a company is. It can be computed as:

EBIT = revenue - (expenses + taxes + interest) 

It comes in handy when comparing companies with different tax regimes. EBIT is useful for investors because it shows a company's profitability from its operations without considering expenses due on debts (taxes and interest). 

Enterprise Value (EV)

The enterprise value EV shows the cash needed to acquire the business. Unlike market capitalization, EV helps investors to have a better understanding of the actual value of the company.  

EV is given by the following: 

EV = Equity Market Capitalization + Total Debt - Cash (Cash Equivalents included)

Where the Equity Market Capitalization = Share Price x N. of Shares

This metric is valuable as it is often used during acquisition or takeover processes, in which a company needs to have the proper valuation for these events. 

Pros of the Ebit Ev Multiple

The EBIT/EV ratio has several key advantages that help researchers throughout the companies' comparison process: 

Pros of the Ebit Ev Multiple

The EBIT/EV ratio has several key advantages that help researchers throughout the companies' comparison process: 

  • The EV considers both the value of debt and the market capitalization, which helps as it is possible to compare companies with different debt levels.  
  • Using the EBIT does not take into account different tax rates, allowing for comparing international countries among them. 

Example 

Let's suppose Company ABC has the following structure: 

  • EBIT of $1.9 billion;
  • Market Cap of $15 billion;
  • The debt of $5 billion; 
  • Cash of $0.9. 

And Company XYZ has the following structure:

  • EBIT of $20 billion;
  • Market Cap of $122 billion;
  • The debt of $38 billion;
  • Cash of $12 billion

As for Company ABC, the enterprise value will be: 

$15 billion + $5 billion - $0.9 = $19.1 billion.

In this case the EBIT/EV will be: $1.9 billion / $19.1 billion = 9.94%. 

On the other hand, the EV for XYZ will be computed as: 

$122 billion + $38 billion - $12 billion = $148 billion. 

The EBIT/EV for this company will be the following: $20 billion / $148 billion = 13.5% 

In this case, XYZ has a higher earnings yield because of its lower exposure to leverage. 

To properly evaluate if these companies are overvalued or undervalued, it is crucial to understand and filter relevant information such as: 

  • Industry Trends; 
  • Total Market Size; 
  • Industry's and Company's Growth Rates; 
  • Geographical Advantages and Disadvantages.

Key Takeaways
  • The EBIT/EV multiple is a financial ratio that measures the company's earnings yield;
  • It is used in relative valuation to determine whether a stock is overpriced or underpriced. 
  • The EBIT/EV metric is used in several financial fields, such as equity research, mergers & acquisitions, investment banking, and private equity.
  • A high EBIT/EV multiple signals that the company price could be overvalued. In case of a low EBIT/EV ratio, the company's stock could be undervalued. 
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Researched and authored by Alessandro Davì | LinkedIn

Reviewed and Edited by Aditya Salunke I LinkedIn

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